JEE Advanced 2026: Eligibility, IIT admission criteria explained

The Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Advanced serves as the gateway to undergraduate admissions at the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs). It is the final selection stage for IIT admissions, and only candidates who qualify JEE Main are eligible to appear for the exam.

Through JEE Advanced, IITs offer admission to undergraduate programmes leading to Bachelor’s, Integrated Master’s, and Bachelor–Master dual degrees in Engineering, Sciences, and Architecture. On successful completion of dual degree programmes, students are awarded both degrees.

Also read JEE Mains 2026 April: Marks vs percentile trends; predict rank for BTech admissions at NITs, IIITs

IIT academic programmes list

IITs also provide options such as B.Tech (Honours), minors, and interdisciplinary dual degrees, subject to institute-specific academic performance requirements.

JEE Advanced 2026 Eligibility

JEE Main performance: Candidates must be among the top 2,50,000 scorers in JEE Main 2026 (B.E./B.Tech paper) across all categories, including reservation rules.

Age limit: General/EWS/OBC: born on or after 1 October 2001, SC/ST/PwD: relaxation of 5 years (born on or after 1 October 1996)

Number of attempts: A candidate can appear a maximum of two times in two consecutive years

Class 12 requirement: Candidates must have first appeared in Class 12 (or equivalent) in 2025 or 2026 with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics as compulsory subjects. Students who first appeared in 2024 or earlier are not eligible. However, if the Class XII (or equivalent) board declared the 2023–24 results on or after June 18, 2024, then candidates who appeared for the Class XII exam in 2024 from that board will also be eligible for JEE (Advanced) 2026, provided they meet all other eligibility conditions. One can check the detailed criteria in the official information bulletin.

IIT admission rule: Candidates should not have been admitted to any IIT earlier. Some exceptions apply for preparatory course students or specific withdrawal cases.

JEE Advanced important dates

Candidates can check registration, fee payment, and other dates here.

JEE advanced admit card will include details such as the candidate’s name, JEE (Advanced) 2026 roll number, JEE Main application number, photograph, signature, date of birth, correspondence address, and category. It will also mention the name and address of the allotted examination centre. Candidates must carefully check all details, and in case of any error, contact the Chairperson of JEE (Advanced) 2026 at the respective zonal coordinating IIT. For more details, one can go to the official website.